そう（様態）

Looks Like

Level 2Sounds Like sou

Use 〜そう to describe your first impression of something you see. It's like saying 'It looks...' or 'It seems...' before you have confirmed the facts.

How It Works

The appearance pattern 〜そう is a vital tool for expressing intuition based on what is right in front of you. Unlike logical deduction, this is an 'eyewitness' judgment.

Morphology (How to attach):

  • い-adjectives: Remove the final 〜い and add 〜そう. (Example: おいしい → おいしそう)
  • な-adjectives: Attach directly to the stem (remove な). (Example: 元気な → 元気そう)
  • Verbs: Attach to the ます-stem. (Example: 降ります → 降りそう)

Crucial Exceptions:

  • いい (Good): Becomes よさそう (It looks good).
  • ない (Non-existent): Becomes なさそう (It looks like there isn't any).

Usage Notes:
Once you have confirmed the state (e.g., you have tasted the food), you can no longer use 〜そう. You must use the direct adjective (おいしい). Additionally, this pattern cannot be used for obvious visual facts; you wouldn't say a red apple 'looks red' (赤そう) because it simply is red. You would use it for things you are guessing, like 'looks sweet' (甘そう).

Examples (5)

  1. このケーキ、すごくおいしそうですね！

    This cake looks really delicious!

    Word by Word: This cake, very delicious-looking is, isn't it?

    The speaker is looking at the cake and making a guess about its taste before eating it.

  2. 今にも雨が降りそうです。

    It looks like it's going to rain at any moment.

    Word by Word: Even now rain (subject) fall-seeming is.

    Based on the dark clouds the speaker sees, they predict rain will happen very soon.

  3. 田中さんは忙しそうに仕事をしています。

    Mr. Tanaka is working in a way that looks busy.

    Word by Word: Tanaka-san (topic) busy-seeming-ly work (object) doing is.

    Here, 〜そう is used adverbially with に to describe the manner in which someone is working.

  4. このアトラクションはあまり怖くなさそうです。

    This attraction doesn't look very scary.

    Word by Word: This attraction (topic) not-very scary-not-seeming is.

    Demonstrates the negative form for adjectives: [Stem] + くなさそう.

  5. その映画は面白そうですね。

    That movie looks interesting, doesn't it?

    Word by Word: That movie (topic) interesting-seeming is, right?

    Based on a poster or a trailer, the speaker gives their impression.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 〜そう with nouns to mean 'looks like a...'

    彼は学生そうです。
    彼は学生みたいです。

    〜そう (appearance) cannot attach directly to nouns. To say someone looks like a student, use みたい or ようだ.

  • Confusing appearance 〜そう with hearsay 〜そう.

    おいしいそうです。(Meaning 'It looks delicious')
    おいしそうです。(Meaning 'It looks delicious')

    Attaching to the plain form (おいしい) creates hearsay ('I heard it is delicious'). To express appearance, you must use the stem (おいし).

  • Incorrect conjugation of the adjective 'ii' (good).

    いそうです。
    よさそうです。

    The adjective いい (good) is irregular. When adding 〜そう, it must change to よさそう.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

そう（様態）Level 2Looks Like

Learn This First

To use 'sou' for appearance, you must know how to identify and conjugate the stems of i-adjectives, na-adjectives, and verbs.

Words in This Pattern